COURSE WINNER ON BETFRED EBOR TRAIL
PROVEN course performer, Lycidas, has been declared for what looks a very competitive renewal of the John Smith’s Silver Cup – a Listed handicap for stayers – at York tomorrow.
The Charlie Fellowes-trained six-year-old is dropping down in trip, having won a handicap over two miles at the Dante Festival.
Lycidas went on to contest the Ascot Stakes over two and a half miles at the Royal Meeting and the marathon distance proved a bridge too far.
But he was far from disgraced and Fellowes is optimistic that this three-time winner has more to offer.
He said: “Lycidas won a competitive handicap at York’s Dante Meeting – that was over two miles and we are dropping down in trip.
“I am not 100 per cent sure whether it’s the right move but Stevie Donohoe, who won on him that day and knows him better than anyone, thinks he will be better for the step back. Hopefully he’s right because the horse is in great form.
“I was not disappointed with his Ascot run – he ran very well for some way before obviously running out of gas.
“He is entered in the Ebor and this was the ideal race for him as a trial for that. He is at the right end of the handicap and is getting plenty of weight off those up the top– I am sure this horse is still improving and I think he goes there with a good chance.
“Unfortunately Stevie Donohoe can’t ride him on Saturday but I was delighted to secure Paul Mulrennan – he has a better strike rate for me than any other jockey so fingers crossed it continues.”
Lycidas’s rivals in the 16-strong field include Listed winner Ayrad (Roger Varian) and the progressive Astronereus (Amanda Perrett), who was last seen finishing third in the Duke Of Edinburgh handicap at Royal Ascot.
The race, along with the card’s other Listed contest – the City Walls Stakes – add extra lustre to what is already sure to be a superb day’s action with the highlight being the 56th John Smith’s Cup, worth £150,000.
The first of seven races gets underway at 1.45 with the John Smith’s Racing Stakes, a handicap over a mile which sees the seasonal return of the highly-regarded Basateen. Sheikh Hamdan’s colt was third when last seen on a racecourse behind subsequent Jersey Stakes winner Dutch Connection in the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at the 2014 Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival.